A man who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement again.
She stated the defendant then played the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
